These political activists have been pushing their anti-gun rights agenda before most Americans were born. But over the last century, Americans views on gun rights have dramatically changed.

"Historically, large majorities of Americans favoured [British English] stronger gun laws, way back to the 1930s," said Robert Spitzer, author of the Politics of Gun Control and chair of the political science department at State University of New York College at Cortland. "But visibly in the last decade public opinion has shifted toward being more sympathetic toward the gun rights position."

While its possible that individual Americans views on gun rights may have changed over time, a more likely explanation is that newer generations of Americans just support gun rights by higher margins than their predecessors. The latter conclusion is supported by a 2012 American University study conducted by American University professor Jennifer L. Lawless and Loyola Marymount professor Richard L. Fox which focused on the political opinions of young Americans.

Gallup reported in 2011 that [f]orty-seven percent of American adults currently report that they have a gun in their home or elsewhere on their property. This is up from 41% a year ago and is the highest Gallup has recorded since 1993. And now the American University study finds that an even higher percentage of younger Americans - 60% of both high school and college students - "plan on owning guns at a later stage in life.

an even higher percentage of younger Americans - 60% of both high school and college students - "plan on owning guns at a later stage in life.

We who are in our own middling and advanced years must beat back this latest onslaught of gun-grabbers from the head constitution-trasher himself, down to every two-bit local city council member who thinks they have more to say about life in American than the rest of us.

This is why we need to invite other, younger generation type persons to go shooting with us from time to time and let them, safely, fondle our wicked cool “evil black rifles”. We need to be prepping the battlefields of tomorrow today because our enemy surely is. His greatest weapons are time and complacency.

The young socialists are there in the wings.
You may not know their names, and they don’t want you to.
They are like cock roaches.
They hide in the shadows and scurry under the refrigerator to avoid the spotlight.
The problem is not going to go away simply because of the aging of the figure heads.
As the older, bolder socialists pass on;
the younger ones will step up to take their place.

10
posted on 02/10/2013 4:52:36 PM PST
by Repeal The 17th
(We have met the enemy and he is us.)

Having a healthy leavening of fairly recent military trained men from peacetime and conflict (VN, Gulf, Afghan) that are comfortable with guns helps too.

There were no guns in the house when I grew up, step-monster freaked out when she found a pellet gun I had smuggled in. After I got out of the service, have almost always had a few. Just seems normal to me.

***”Historically, large majorities of Americans favoured [British English] stronger gun laws, way back to the 1930s,”****

Bunkum. Every time a proposition like Prop 15 in Cali back in 1982, is voted on it is TURNED DOWN by the people.

For those who don’t remember, prop 15 was to register all handguns and ban the sell of new ones in California.

it was guaranteed to pass.
Law officers in big cities backed it.

The night before the vote CBS had an hour special on the evil of handguns.

Polls said it would pass 2 to 1!

HCI was popping Champaign corks in a guaranteed win.

The the next day the prop was VOTED DOWN by a 2 to 1 margin.

The anti gun forces across the US were stunned, so they started looking for other ways to get around this road block. That is when they discovered the Cop Killer bullet and assault rifles, so they made them targets, even though they had said “Long guns would not be affected”.

They always leave out such-and-such to “not be affected”, so as to make it appear to those who don’t think things through, that they’re being “reasonable”. But-first, they have no right to infringe the 2A in any way, even so far as they already have. Second, they never stop coming back to mop up things they left out before. That’s how the left gets their whole agenda implemented, and I don’t understand how after all this time, people aren’t wise to it. How do they think the left has come to own academia, the media, and now are infiltrating the Christian church and the military?

I am nearing 69 and I am at the opposite end of the spectrum from Feinstein. She is not actually anti-gun anyway, she is simply against gun rights for the non-elite. She certainly thinks that she and her friends should have all the gun rights imaginable. The rest are the same way. Put some of these fools out in the middle of Detroit at midnight and tell them they can have either a handgun or a lollipop and see which they choose. You will find out just how anti-gun they REALLY are. Or just ask them how much money it would take to get them to put a sign on their own front lawn saying in four inch letters that their home is a “gun free zone”.

23
posted on 02/10/2013 6:15:20 PM PST
by RipSawyer
(I was born on Earth, what planet is this?)

The only thing certain about the young is that they will rebel and this is possibly the only thing preventing the extinction of mankind. In the current environment the things they will be rebelling against are the things that are currently in vogue such as gay marriage, anti-gun hysteria, sexual abandon, etc. if the human race survives things may be far different from what we suspect fifty years from now. Of course I don’t expect to be here to see it.

26
posted on 02/10/2013 6:24:28 PM PST
by RipSawyer
(I was born on Earth, what planet is this?)

I’m one of the older group, but I well remember my Dad taking all of us kids and cousins out to shoot bottles and cans off of logs while my Mom and the Aunts made Thanksgiving dinner. First and foremost, before anything else, came the lesson on gun safety. Both my husband and eldest daughter are nationally rated competitive Army, high school and collegiate shooters. I’m no marksman myself, but I consistently hit my target with my pistol. However, we haven’t been able to get our grandkids interested. Yet.

These political activists have been pushing their anti-gun rights agenda before most Americans were born.

This is due to the fact that there are a LOT of urban dwellers who are armed and don't talk about it. Safe deposit boxes in my old neighborhood were often rented for short periods to lock up firearms while the family was out of town.

30
posted on 02/10/2013 7:42:21 PM PST
by SunkenCiv
(Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)

I believe this is due to a lot of us boomers teaching our children and their friends about the responsible use of firearms. I have taught hunter education for years. The kids really step up to taking responsibility when given the chance.

31
posted on 02/10/2013 8:23:37 PM PST
by wjcsux
("In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell)

I believe this is due to a lot of us boomers teaching our children and their friends about the responsible use of firearms. I have taught hunter education for years. The kids really step up to taking responsibility when given the chance.

32
posted on 02/10/2013 8:23:57 PM PST
by wjcsux
("In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell)

I'm taking my daughter and two of her friends shooting for her sweet sixteen celebration next week. We're taking the 1911 and the Alaskan (she's a big fan of .45s). I think they're looking forward to it more than I am.

“I believe the shift is due to all the 3D video games that young people play. Theyve been shooting guns electronically since they were little and would like to try it for real.”

You and Vince Ferrer posted essentially the same thought. I really don’t think that’s it. I think younger Americans just realize, in larger %ages than older generations, that the police are not going to show up in time to help and that they are not primarily interested in our interest. They may even be afraid of an increasingly militarized police.

67 years out of 77 is advanced when you consider that 77 is an average. Sorry but you can reasonably expect to die between the ages of 67 and 87. Some will make it to or a little past 87 just as some wont make it to or much past 67.

Look at this way: 67 / 77= 87%. At 67 you are on average 87% of the way to dead. That sounds advanced to me.

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